Snap-lock assembly



Oct. 11, 1966 A. c. SANOWSKIS SNAP-LOCK ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 23, 1965 1|| Ill e "Illlllll f 45556;; iawa Oct. 11, 1966 A. c.SANOWSKIS 3,277,679

SNAP-LOCK AS SEMBLY I- T g United States Patent 3,277,679 SNAP-LOCKASSEMBLY Albert C. Sanowskis, 7321 S. Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill. FiledOct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,367 16 Claims. (Cl. 70-313) This inventionrelates generally to push-button operated combination locks and moreparticularly, is concerned with a snap-lock assembly for use therewith.

Structures characterized as push-button operated combination locksherein are those of the type operable by a set of keys or buttons andwhich are provided with a lock controlling device shiftable step bystep, in one direction, by operation of the keys or buttons in apredetermined sequence to release a latch engaging bolt from a latch;and which device, when the keys are not operated in sequence, will bedisabled and the latch engaging bolt not released. Structures of thisgeneral character are those disclosed in my earlier United StatesPatents Nos. 2,665,- 57 7 and 2,75 0,786. The combination lock structurewith which this invention is most closely associated is that structuredisclosed and claimed in my co-pending patent application Serial No.395,372 filed September 10, 1964.

The lock structure disclosed in my co-pending patent applicationutilized lock controlling means comprising a pair of flat shiftableracks or slides frictionally held in place side by side and arranged forslidable movement, each slide being provided with tines having camsurfaces at their free ends. The said cam surfaces are keyed to face ina direction so that when the keys or push-buttons are actuated, leversassociated with said buttons engage the cam surfaces of the tines toshift the slides. The keying is arranged so that the cam surfaces ofselected tines of one slide face in one direction and are aligned withlike directed cam surfaces of the other slide whereby actuation of thelevers against said aligned cam surfaces serve to move both slidesconjointly and in alignment. The remaining cam surfaces of the tines ofboth slides are arranged so that actuation of the levers thereagainstreverse the slides or shift only one of the slides relative the other.The slides either move in a direction reversed to that desired, therebyfailing to advance toward open condition or fail to move conjointly butinstead, are moved relative one to the other and hence are misaligned.When the slides are misaligned, the keyed cam surfaces are alsomisaligned, and hence, the slides cannot further be moved conjointly and.in alignment unless and until they are realigned.

Each of the slides is provided with an opening therein to permit passageof a spring biased latch bolt control member, same functioning as latchbolt control means, So long as the slides move conjointly and aligned bymanipulation of the buttons in the proper predetermined sequence, theopenings in the slides also move in aligned condition. Said bolt controlmember is arranged so that one end bears against the slide and the otherend bears against the latch bolt to prevent withdrawal thereof from thelatch. After the predetermined number of stepwise movements, theopenings are thus brought into alignment with the spring biased latchbolt control member so that the same passes through the alignedopenings. This in turn releases the latch bolt. Ordinarily, the latchbolt is spring biased so that on release, it will snap back or withdrawinto the housing. The door or like closure thus may be opened.

The co-pending patent application provided resetting means for the lockassembly to enable simultaneous withdrawal of the latch bolt controlmember from said aligned openings in the slides and movement of theslides to their initial condition, thereby forcing the latch bolt toextend outward from the housing. In this manner the lock was reset forreuse. However, use of the reset button was ice necessary to force thelatch bolt into engaging condition with the latch. Thus when the doorwas closed, one had to manipulate the resetting means. Operation of theresetting means to set the latch bolt also reset the combina tion sothat, to open the door, one merely performed the required manipulationsof the push-buttons.

In many applications of the combination lock structures for residentialand/or commercial purposes, it is desired that the residential orcommercial door upon which the lock is used automatically be locked uponclosing thereof instead of requiring the subsequent operation of theresetting mechanism. Further it is desired that the combinationmechanism remain disabled until the door is to be opened. This wouldinvolve the provision of snaplock type structures for use in conjunctionwith the specific push-button operated combination lock structure. Whatis desired is a mechanism operative to withdraw the latch boltcontrolling means from the described aligned passageways and also to setand effectively dead-bolt the latch bolt in the latch-all simultaneouslywith the closing of the door. Generally, available snap-lockarrangements include various forms of articulated linkages, springs,levers and the like which act to cause the latch bolt memher to beimmobilized. These arrangements are not adapted for operation inconjunction with the lock structure of the character described becauseof the relative size and complexity of the component parts thereof, Notonly are many of these arrangements unsuited because of size andcomplexity for use with the described combination lock structure butincorporation of such arrangements greatly increase the cost of the lockstructure.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide anautomatic resetting dead-bolt snapa lock assembly for use with apushabutton operated combination lock of the character described, saidsnap-lock assembly having means for'setting of the latch bolt controlmeans to a neutral condition on opening of the door and the dead-lockingof said latch bolt upon reclosing of the door.

Another object of this invention is to provide a snap- =lock assembly ofthe character described for use with a push-button operated combinationlock wherein the combination lock is immobilized, yet the latch bolt setin locked condition without operation of the reset means of thecombination lock structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a snaplock of thecharacter described wherein dead-locking of the latch is effected bydepression of a retractile, spring biased, rod member to compress thespring and activate a detent means, and, further to utilize the springtension not only to release the detent means when the door is openedbut, additionally to actuate a lock control mechanism for subsequentoperation to unlock the lock.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be evidenced as apreferred embodiment thereof is describe-d in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the snap-lock according to the inventionas used in conjunction with a pushbutton operated combination lock asinstalled on a residential and/ or commercial door.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the lock illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a-perspective view of the snap-lock mechanism according to theinvention in combination with selected operating elements of thepush-button operated combination lock with portions deleted to showinterior structure.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views of the snap-lock arrangement suchas illustrated in FIG. 3 so as to dia grammatically illustrate theoperation of the snap-lock 3 according to the invention in its variousstages of operation. 7 FIG. 7 is an end-on view of the snap-lockassembly according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a push-button operated combinationlock structure of the character dis- I closed in my co-pending patentapplication to which reference has been made is designated generally byreference character 10 and is illustrated as installed on a door 12pivotally disposed on hinges or the like (not shown) for movement in adoor frame 14. The door is provided with handle 16 on opposite sidesthereof to facilitate opening and closing of the door.

The combination lock structure 10 operates a snap-lock assemblyaccording to the invention, same being generally I designated byreference character 20.

The snap-lock assembly 20 is disposed in a suitable opening 18 of thedoor 12 in a direction normal to the elongate body of vthe combinationlock structure 10 and secured on the body by suitable slot and groovemeans (not shown). The snap-lock assembly 10 is provided with aretractile latch bolt 22, the end 23 of which extends outward of thedoor into the latch 26 contained by striker plate 28, which is securedto the door frame 14.

The operation of the push-button combination lock structure 10 isidentical to that described in my pending patent application to whichreference is made for details as to the construction and operationthereof. For the purposes of this description, it will sufiice to statethat at least a pair of lock controlling slides 30 and 32 are arrangedin a housing 33 for conjoint slidable movement, step by step in onedirection caused by selective operation of buttons or keys 34 in apredetermined sequence. Latch bolt controlling means comprising a latchbolt controlling member 36 has one end 38 bearing against a planarportion of that slide which faces the same until said end 38 is broughtinto alignment with a pair of aligned passageways formed in the slidesso that the latch control member end 38 may be passed therethrough. Theopposite end of member 36 is arranged to urge the latch engaging portionof bolt 22 exterior of the door.

The latch bolt controlling member 36 is biased so that upon placement ofthe passageways 40 in alignment'therewith, the member end 38 passesthrough said passageways. In the structure disclosed in my copendingapplication, the latch bolt is spring biased to retractilely withdrawinto its housing upon the passage of said member end 38 through thealigned passageways 40.

The combination lock structure concerned is provided with resettingmeans which simultaneously cause the withdrawal of the latch boltcontrolling member and from the aligned passageways to reset the latchbolt and force same to extend from the housing and returns the lockcontrolling membersthe slidesto their initial lock set condition. Insaid lock set condition, all that is necessary to open the door is theproper manipulation of the buttons 34.

In the herein structure, the reset button is designated by referencecharacter 42 and is a semi-hollow member reciprocally movable in asuitable passageway formed in the face of the plate 44 of thecombination lock housing 33 and biased so that it normally extends fromsaid housing. The reset button 42 has secured thereto a bifurcatedmember 46 consisting of a pair of spaced arms 47 defining a wedge-shapedslot 48 operative upon scissors .lever means 49 to reset the slides 30,32 in the manner described in said copending application, to theirinitial position for operating the lock.

The bolt withdrawal means set interior of the reset button 42 which isutilized in the structure described herein differs slightly from thatdescribed in the copending application. Here, a spring biased T-shapedmember or level 50 is provided having a long arm 52 extending out- :Wardfrom the recess or cavity 54 of the button 42. The opposite end 56thereof is set within one corner of said cavity 54. A helical wirespring 58 is secured between the other corner 60 and the arm 52 toinsure only pivotal movement of the arm 52 around a pivot axis at 56.The short arm 53 acts as a stop to limit the reverse movement of arm 52.The latch bolt controlling member 36 includes a notched portion 62located so that actuation of the reset button 42 in the directionindicated by arrow A, urges the free end 64 of said arm 52 against anotch 62 moving the latch bolt controlling member 36 in the direction ofarrow B to withdraw the same from the aligned passageways 40 of theracks 30 and 32.

In the assembly, according to the herein invention, the reset button 42functions simply to cause resetting of the slides 30 and 32 to theirneutral or initial position and withdraw member end 38 from blockingcontact within the passageways 40 when the slides 30 and 32 aremisaligned due to the operation of button 34 in other than thepredetermined sequence and the end 38 only passes through one of theslides. Thus the purpose of the resetting button 42 in the hereininvention is not simply to withdraw the latch controlling boltmember'from the aligned passageways to set the latch bolt. According tothe invention, when the buttons 34 are depressed in the proper sequenceand the member end 38 passes through both slides to enable opening ofthe door, the member end 38 is withdrawn from the passageways 40 on mereopening of the door. The mechanism by which such sequence is carried outwill be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Now referring to FIG. 3, the snap-lock assembly embodying the inventionis illustrated in its dead-bolted condition with the retractile latchbolt 22 extending into the latch 26 contained by striker plate 28. Thebolt 22 is disposed for horizontally oriented movement in an open endedcylindrical housing 66 closed otf at its inner end 68 by a cap 70. Cap70 has a slot 72 therein permitting the passage of the latch boltcontrolling member 36 therethrough, and also includes slot and key means(not shown) for cooperation with like means (not shown) on thecombination lock body 33 for securing the snap-lock assembly 20 thereto.

The latch, bolt 22 is of generally cylindrical configuration having alatch engaging end 23 integral therewith and normally disposed outwardfrom housing 66. Said end 23 has a cam surface 76 presented to curvedportion 78 of the striker plate 28. The latch engaging end 23 of bolt 22also is provided with a fiat surface 79 which surface functions as akeeper, bearing against the edge 80 of the lat-ch when the end 23 isdisposed in latch 26. Surface 79 defines with surface 82 of the bolt 22,a shoulder indicated by reference character 84. A retainer plate 24 isprovided with opening 86 of semi-cylindrical crosssectionalconfiguration so as to permit passageof the latch engaging end 23'ofbolt 22 therethrough, but to retain the remainder of bolt 22 in thehousing by providing a retainer surface 88 adapted to have shoulder 84seated thereagainst. A pair of small diameter, closed end bores 90 areprovided in said bolt 22 opening to surface 82, and a pair of likehelical springs 92 are seated therein. An axial, closed end bore 94 isformed in said bolt 22 opening to the rear surface 82' thereof and ahelical spring '96 is accommodated seated therein. Spring 96 is chosento be stronger than the pair of springs 92 for a purpose to bedescribed.

An elongate groove 98 of substantially semi-cylindrical, cross-sectionis formed in the annular surface 102 of A latch bolt 22. Groove 98 isdisposed between the pair of bores 90 and opening radially to saidsurface 102. An elongate, hollow, retractile rod 104, preferably ofcylindrical cross-sectional configuration is disposed for reciprocalmovement within groove 98. Said hollow rod 104 has an inner open end 106and a closed end 107 which extends outward of the housing 66 throughsuitable opening 108 formed in plate 24. A helical spring 110 is seatedwithin the hollow portion 112 of rod 104 and bears against the closedend 107. The opposite end of spring 110 is seated against surface 114 ofcap 70.

A disc 116 is disposed within housing 66 between the end cap 70 and theinner end surface 82' of latch bolt 22. Rod 104 is secured at its openend 106 to disc 116 with the spring 110 passing through opening 106formed in the disc 116. The disc 116 also has a central passageway 118of a configuration to accommodate, loosely, the latch bolt controllingmember 36 for movement therethrough. Disc 116, of course, is movablereciprocally in the housing, carried by movement of rod 104. Latch boltcontrolling member 136 is provided with a plate or seat 120 securedthereto adjacent end 122 thereof. Seat 120 is of a dimension so as to becapable of passage into bore 94. Passageway or slot 118 in disc 116 isof non-conforming configuration to that of seat 120 so that said seatcannot pass through slot 118. In the embodiment described seat 120 is ofcircular configuration while slot 118 is of rectangular configuration.The maximum diameter of seat 120 is chosen so as to be slightly lessthan the diameter of bore 94 so that seat 120 can pass freelytherewithin. The diameter of the spring 96 is chosen so that one end 124is seated on seat 120 with said spring being within bore 94. A wirespring 128 is secured to member 36 at notch 130 formed in said latchbolt controlling member. Wire spring 128 has an elongate portion 132arranged disposed outwardly inclined along member 36 toward the end 122thereof. The elongate portion 132 has a bent terminal portion 134integral therewith and extending toward the member 36. End 122 of member36 is provided with a transverse passageway 136 formed therein closelyadjacent the seat 120 to accommodate terminal portion 134 of spring 128when portion 132 thereof is disposed fiat against the member 36. Undersuch conditions, both spring 128 and seat 120 can enter bore 94. Theangle of inclination of portion 134 of wire spring 128 relative tomember 36 is chosen so that said terminal portion 134 normally extendsoutward of passageway 136 and bears against surface 82' unlessrestrained by the disc 116. Thus, the terminal portion 134 functions asdetent means to prevent movement of the latch bolt 22 when the disc 116is spaced from the end surface 82' of said latch bolt 22. Such conditionexists when the member 104 is retracted interior of the housing 66 andthe latch bolt 22 extends outward from the housing 66.

Attention is now directed to the operation of the automatic resettingdeadbolt, snap-lock assembly 10. In the view shown in FIG. 3, theassembly is shown in a deadlock position With latch bolt 22 extendinginto the latch 26 surrounded or contained by striker plate 28. Thehollow rod 104 is retracted into the housing 66 and retained against thebias of spring 110 by striker plate 28. Spring 110 is in compressedcondition. Member 36 is threaded through slot 118 but disc 116 is spacedfrom the rear surface 82' of bolt 22. Spring 128 is shown inclined awayfrom member 36 with terminal portion 34 hearing against surface 82'.Springs 92 are compressed while spring 96 is in normal extendedcondition. The reset button 42 has not been depressed, but the slide 30has its planar surface bearing against end 38 of member 36.

In FIG. 4, the door 12 is fully open subsequent to the correctmanipulation of buttons 34. Spring 110' has expanded to force member 104from the housing 66 since rod 104 is no longer restrained by portion 78of strike plate 28. The disc 116 is carried by movement of mem her 104and forces the latch engaging end 23 of bolt 22 from the housing 66.Springs 92 seated in openings 90 in bolt 22 are compressed and arerestrained by the inner surface 108 of plate 124 as shown at 142.Movement of disc 116 has forced the spring 128 against member 36 withterminal portion 134 accommodated entirely Within passageway 136 ofmember 36 so that the seat 120 and spring 128 can enter passageway 94 tocompress spring 96. The movement of disc 116 also carries with it theseat 120 of member 36 withdrawing end 38 from the slides 30 and 32.Gravity then causes the slides to descent since there is no longerfriction exercised to maintain the position thereof. Now the end 38 isspaced slightly from the planar surface of facing slide 30'.

When the door 12 is closed, portion 78 of striker plate 28 will contactthe cam surface 76 of latch engaging end 23 of bolt 22 to cause same toretract into the housing 66. Simultaneously disc 116 is carried inwardof the housing 66. The rod 104 is thus retracted into housing 66 tocompress spring 110. Now .the assembly assumes the condition shown inFIG. 6. Since the latch bolt controlling member 36 cannot move becausethe racks 30 and 32 prevent such movement and because seat 120 andspring 128 can move through passageway 118 into bore 94, the retractionof latch bolt 22 compresses spring 96 as shown in FIG. 6'. As the bolt22 clears the surface 78 and is aligned with the latch opening containedby plate 28, the spring 96, being stronger than springs 92, will leaveits compressed condition forcing the latch bolt end 23 outward from thehousing into the latch to assume a position as shown in FIG. 5. Thestrike plate surface 78 restrains the movement of rod 104 so that thesame is not permitted to move exterior of the housing and spring remainscompressed.

At the same time that bolt 22 moves away from the disc 116, the spring128 is no longer held against bolt 36 by the disc 116 and so terminalportion 134 moves out of passageway 136 so as to prevent the latch bolt22 from retracting interior of housing 66. Thus the bolt is dead-lockedas shown in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Once the slides 30 and 32 are reset and move stepwise conjointly byproper manipulation in the predetermined sequence of buttons 34 so thatopenings 40 are brought into position to enable end 38 of member 36 topass therethrough, the latch bolt 22 then will be forced, by expansionof springs 92, to retract into housing 66. Thus the latch bolt 22 movesagainst disc 116 so as to clear the latch. By such movement of member36, the spring 128 is again urged against member 36 as it travelsthrough passage 118. Now the door can be opened simply by grasping andpulling upon handle 16.

As the door opens, and the rod 104 clears the strike plate 28, spring110 expands and urges the rod 104 outward, simultaneously moving themember 36 and moving the end 38 thereof away from the slides 30 and 32.Since the slides, as stated, normally are held in place by the frictioncaused by the bearing of end 38 thereagainst as described in mycopending application, when the friction is removed, the slides drop dueto gravity so that the passageways 40 are no longer aligned with end 38.Now the assembly 10 assumes a condition illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereforewhen the door is pushed closed in the manner described above, the lockalready is placed in substantially set condition.

The combination lock can only be operated with the door closed becauseso long as the door is ajar, there is no friction holding the slides inplace. In order to open the lock when the door is closed, reset button42 is depressed in the direction indicated by arrow A. The

slides are returned to normal or initial neutral position by the camlikeedges of .slot 48 exercised against the scissors lever means (notshown). Reference is made to my copending application for detailedexplanation of this mechanism. Thus the reset button 42 need only beactutted for opening of the door while, once closed, the door is locked,the latch bolt 22 being deadlocked relative the latch.

It should be understood that variations and modifications can be made tolock assembly 20 without departing from the concept of the invention.For example, spring 128 may be replaced by an end pivoted lever securedwithin an elongate slot formed in member 36. Spring end 124 then wouldbe provided with a tail or extension which acts to bias the levernormally from the said slot to 7 block the retraction of bolt 28.Another modification may be made independently of that last described.Here, the rod 104 may be formed as a solid member with spring 110enlarged in diameter but reduced in length so as to bear against disc116 between said disc and cap '70.

It is believed that the invention has been described in sulficientdetail to enable the skilled artisan to practice the same. Othervariations than those above described may occur to the skilled artisanwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the claims.

What I claim is: 4

1. In combination, a push button operated combination lock having aplurality of push buttons requiring the consecutive depression of achosen sequence of said push buttons to effect the change of said lockfrom an initial locked condition to an open condition, and including alock controlling device coupled to said buttons and shiftable stepbystep in one direction to pass latch bolt control means therethrough torelease the latch bolt but only upon depression of the proper sequenceof said chosen buttons and wherein depression of said push buttons inother but the predetermined sequence serves to disable a lockcontrolling device, means for resetting the lock controlling device tothe initial locked condition, which means includes scissors lever meansoperable on the lock controlling device, withdrawal means cooperablesimultaneously with said scissors lever means to release said lockcontrolling device for resetting and actuating means to operatesimultaneously both the scissors lever means and the withdrawal means,and, an automatic snap-lock assembly comprising -a hollow housingadapted to be secured to said combination lock, one end of the housingadapted to have the latch bolt disposed therein with a portion thereofnormally biased exterior thereof, said latch bolt control meansextending within said housing, detent means carried by said latch boltcontrol means and operable to prevent retraction of said latch bolt,detent control means operable to render the said detent means normallyinefiective when the door is open, plural spring means disposed in .thehousing and operable normally to bias both the latch bolt and the detentcontrol means exterior of the housing, and means operable to firstretract both detent control means and latch bolt during the closing ofthe door and thereafter to permit release of the latch bolt whileretaining the detent control means retracted interior of the housing torender the detent means effective whereby to prevent retraction of thelatch bolt so long as the door is closed and until the operation of saidpush button in the predetermined sequence.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said latch bolt has acavity opening to the housing and said plural spring means comprises a.first spring means disposed in said cavity and seated upon the latchbolt controlling means, and said latch bolt has a second cavity openingto the exterior of the housing and a second spring means seated thereinto bias the latch bolt in retracted condition and stop means to containsaid second spring means within the housing, said first spring meansbeing stronger than the second spring means.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detent meanscomprises an elongate member secured at one end thereof to said latchbolt controlling means and biased to be normally disposed with theopposite end thereof blocking retraction of said latch bolt.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which said detent controlmeans comprises a spring biased rod disposed for reciprocation withinsaid housing and normally biased exterior thereof and a disc disposedwithin said housing and secured to the inner end of said rod and havinga passageway of configuration to accommodate said latch bolt controllingmeans therethrough and movable with said rod between two conditions, thefirst being adjacent the inner end of said latch bolt and the secondbeing spaced from the inner end of said latch bolt,

said detent means being in effective condition when the disc is in itssecond condition.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which said elongate memberis a spring.

6. An automatic dead-bolt snap-lock assembly for use with a push buttonoperated combination lock which includes latch bolt control meansnormally urging a spn'ngbiased retractile latch bolt exterior of ahousing to engage within a latch and said latch bolt control meansoperable, upon manipulation of a plurality of push-buttons in apredetermined sequence of operation, to release the latch bolt whereuponthe same retracts into the said housing; said snap-lock assemblycomprising a hollow open-end housing, a cap closing off one end of thehousing, said cap having slot means therein for accommodating said latchbolt control means therethrough and means for securing said housing tosaid combination lock, a spring biased retractile latch bolt arrangedfor linear movement within the housing and having a latch engaging endnormally protruding from the housing, detent means for preventingretractile movement of the latch bolt interior of the housing, detentcontrol means disposed within the housing between the latch bolt and thecap, said detent control means operating to place the detent means inits effective condition when the door is closed and to release saiddetent means when the door is opened, and plural spring means ofdiffering strength selectively to bias both latch bolt and detentcontrol means exterior of the housing when the door is open, to biasonly the :latch bolt exterior of the housing when the door is closed andto retractthe latch bolt interior or the housing on release of the latchbolt control means upon completion of proper manipulation of the pushbuttom.

7. The structure as claimed in claim'6 wherein said detent meanscomprises an elongate member secured to said latch bolt control meansand having a position thereof arranged normally biased to blockretraction of the latch bolt and said detent control means comprises anelongate element, a disc secured at one end of said element, the otherend of said element biased normally extending from the housing and saiddisc carrying means to operate on said elongate member to disengage saidportion thereof from blocking position relative to said latch bolt whensaid elongate element is in extended position.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which said elongated elementis a hollow rod closed off at one end and secured to said disc at theopposite end thereof, said third spring means being disposed within saidhollow tube.

9. The structure as claimed in claim 7 and means for retaining the tubein retracted condition while permitting the latch-engaging end of thelatch bolt to extend from the housing when the door is closed.

10. The structure as claimed in claim 7, the said disc has a passagewayto permit reciprocal movement of said latch bolt control meanstherethrough but also to retain said latch bolt control means within thehousing, said latch bolt control means having an end formation ofnon-conforming configuration relative the said passageway. a

11. A self-setting snap-lock assembly for a door and the likecomprising:

(i) a latch bolt housing open at one end thereof;

(ii) a retr actile latch bolt mounted in said housing for rectilinearsliding movement and having a latch engaging portion movable throughsaid open end of said housing;

(iii) a releasable latch-bolt control means operable between twoconditions, the first with the latch engaging end of the latch boltbiased exterior of the housing and the second, with the said latchengaging end retracted within the housing;

(iv) detent means mounted on said latch-bolt control means forpreventing retractile movement of said latch engaging end during theaforesaid first condition;

(v) detent control means operable to render the detent effective whenthe door is closed and to release the etent upon opening of the door;

(vi) first spring biasing means disposed between the latch bolt controlmeans and the latch bolt, normally to bias the latch engaging end of thelatch bolt exterior of the housing, second spring biasing means betweenthe interior of the housing and the detent control means and operativeon said detent control means normally to bias said detent control meansin position to release the detent means, and third spring biasing meansdisposed interior of the housing and operative on said latch boltnormally to bias said latch bolt interior of the housing, said firstspring biasing means being stronger than said third spring biasing meanswhereby to overcome same upon closing of the door and said third springbiasing means operative to retract said latch bolt when said latch-boltcontrol means assumes the second condition thereof, said third springbiasing means being in compressed condition when the door is closed.

12. A snap-lock assembly for a door and the like comprising: a latchbolt housing open at one end, a retractile latch bolt slidably mountedin said housing and having a latch engaging end movable rectilinearlyinto and out of said housing through the open end thereof, detent meansarranged within said housing and operable between an active and apassive condition respectively to block and to permit retractilemovement of said latch bolt end, a retractile member slidably mounted insaid housing adjacent to said latch engaging end and movablerectilinearly, independent of movement of said latch engaging end, intoand out of said housing through the open end thereof along a path ofmovement parallel to the path of movement of said latch engaging end,detent control means arranged within said housing and coupled to saidretractile member spring biasing means arranged within said housingnormally to bias both latch engaging end and retractile member exteriorof the housing, said retractile member capable of being depressedagainst its normal bias to retract same interior of said housing uponclosing of the door, means to maintain said retractile member inretracted condition while the door is closed although said latchengaging end is disposed exterior of the housing thereby to space thedetent control means from said latch engaging end and activate saiddetent means, a lock control mechanism selectively operable to releasethe normal spring bias operative upon said latch engaging end :to permitretraction of same interior of the housing and, simultaneously to causethe detent means to retract further interior of said housing along withretraction of said latch engaging end, said detent control meansoperable to deactivate said detent means during said last mentionedmovement thereof, and, said retractile member being released from thehousing upon opening of the door simultaneously to reset said lockcontrol mechanism to its preoperated condition.

13. The structure as claimed in claim 12 in which said detent controlmeans comprises a plate secured to the inner end of said retractilemember, and movable therewith, said plate being reciprocable between afirst posi tion adjacent to the latch engaging end and a second positionspaced from said latch engaging end and said detent means being inactive condition in said second position and caused to assume passivecondition in said first position.

14. The structure as claimed in claim 12 in which said plate has apassage formed therein and said detent means is arranged through saidpassage.

15. The structure as claimed in claim 14 in which said detent meanscomprises a wire having an end portion arranged norm-ally to blockretraction of said latch engaging end but movable upon release of saidlock control mechanism through said passage in said plate which movementcauses said portion to assume a non-blocking position.

16. A pushbutton operated combination lock for a door and the like whichcomprises a plurality of pushbuttons adapted to be depressed inaccordance with a pre-selected program, rcc-tilinearly movable lockcontrolling means driven by said buttons and having recesses adapted toalign only when the pre-selected program has been followed, latch boltcontrolling means normally held in a first position when the recessesare not aligned but movable to a second position when the recesses arealigned, and an automatic snap lock assembly comprising a hollow housingadapted to be coupled to said combination lock, one end of the housingadapted to have the latch bolt disposed therein with a portion thereofnormally biased exterior thereof, said latch bolt controlling meansextending interior of said housing, detent means carried by said latchbolt controlling means and operable to prevent retraction of said latchbolt, detent control means operable to render the said detent meansnormally ineffective when the door is open, plural spring means disposedin the housing and operable normally to bias both said portion of thelatch bolt and the detent means exterior of the housing, and meansoperable to first retract both detent control means and latch boltduring the closing of the door and thereafter permit release of thelatch bolt portion while retaining the detent means effective whereby toprevent retraction of the latch bolt so long as the door is closed anduntil the operation of said push buttons in accordance with saidpre-selected program.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,468 5/1916Borg -313 2,029,080 1/1936 Mills 70-313 2,346,513 4/ 1944 Sidel-inker703 13 2,750,786 6/ 1956 Sanowskis 70-3 13 BOBBY R. GAY, PrimaryExaminer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIQN Patent No,3,277,679 October 11, 1966 Albert C, Sanowskis It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 73, for "level" ead L lever column 6, line 65, for"actutted" read w actuated column 8, line 38, for "position" readportion line 49, for "elongated" read elongate Signed and sealed this22nd day of August 1967,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Offieer Commissioner of Patents

1. IN COMBINATION, A PUSH BUTTON OPERATED COMBINATION LOCK HAVING APLURALITY OF PUSH BUTTONS REQUIRING THE CONSECUTIVE DEPRESSION OF ACHOSEN SEQUENCE OF SAID PUSH BUTTONS TO EFFECT THE CHANGE OF SAID LOCKFROM AN INITIAL LOCKED CONDITION TO AN OPEN CONDITION, AND INCLUDING ALOCK CONTROLLING DEVICE COUPLED TO SAID BUTTONS AND SHIFTABLE STEP BYSTEP IN ONE DIRECTION TO PASS LATCH BOLT CONTROL MEANS THERETHROUGH TORELEASE THE LATCH BOLT BUT ONLY UPON DEPRESSION OF THE PROPER SEQUENCEOF SAID CHOSEN BUTTONS AND WHEREIN DEPRESSION OF SAID PUSH BUTTONS INOTHER BUT THE PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE SERVES TO DISABLE A LOCKCONTROLLING DEVICE, MEANS FOR RESETTING THE LOCK CONTROLLING DEVICE TOTHE INITIAL LOCKED CONDITION, WHICH MEANS INCLUDES SCISSORS LEVER MEANSOPERABLE ON THE LOCK CONTROLLING DEVICE, WITHDRAWAL MEANS COOPERABLESIMULTANEOUSLY WITH SAID SCISSORS LEVER MEANS TO RELEASE SAID LOCKCONTROLLING DEVICE FOR RESETTING AND ACTUATING MEANS TO OPERATESIMULTANEOUSLY BOTH THE SCISSORS LEVER MEANS AND THE WITHDRAWAL MEANS,AND, AN AUTOMATIC SNAP-LOCK ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOLLOW HOUSING ADAPTEDTO BE SECURED TO SAID COMBINATION LOCK, ONE END OF THE HOUSING ADAPTEDTO HAVE THE LATCH BOLT DISPOSED THEREIN WITH A PORTION THEREOF NORMALLYBIASED EXTERIOR THEREOF, SAID LATCH BOLT CONTROL MEANS EXTENDING WITHINSAID HOUS-